Date:

10/26/14
To:
Professor Stone
From:
April Zacarias
Subject: Progress Report
Below I discuss the status of my progress with my inquiry into disciplinary project.
Introduction
I am conducting an inquiry to create better understanding of the forensic science discipline. My
primary research question being the following How do I as an individual become an insider to
the discipline of forensic science so I can have a bright future as a forensic scientist? My
secondary questions are
What can a college freshman or sophomore student start doing to better prepare themselves for
their future career, what classes are better to take and what are the expectations they are required
to meet?,How can one start creating ethos for themselves so that once they are in their career
they may be able to move up in the discipline and What separates the discipline of forensic
science from other disciplines, why is it important to be an insider to this community, How is
this career helping out a community as a whole?

Research Methods

My research methods include interviewing, surveying, site observation, and document analyses.

Interview(s)
I hadn't had any luck receiving a response from the two professors I wanted to interview until
recently. Which is why I havent been able to conduct any interview. But I already have them
scheduled, I will be interviewing Dr. Gunn who is the forensic chemistry advisor. I believe that
by interviewing Dr. Gunn I can obtain valuable information about what to expect to further I go
into the forensics education. I will also interviewing Forensics professor Dr. Goldstein.

My level of confidence is high with this research method since I already have my interviews set
up.

Survey(s)
My survey has been completed. My next step is to pass them out to students in Professors
Goldstein classroom that he allows me to observe. I plan to distribute them at random to forensic
science students varying from sophomores to seniors and if possible graduate students. The
reason I have not yet done my surveys is because my interview with Professor Goldstein.
My level of confidence with this research method is not so high because Im worried that the
students that I choose to pass my surveys out will not take the time to actually complete the
survey.

Site Observation(s)
For my site observation I plan to sit in on of Professor Goldstein class. Since I have not had the
chance to interview him and that is where I will ask him for permission to be able to observe one
of his classrooms. My interview however with Professor Goldstein is set up for this upcoming
week on Wednesday so that is where I will ask him I may observe one of his lectures.

Document Analysis
I have completed several document analysis for websites about the discipline of forensic science.
The websites are mostly covering the basic information about the discipline. Information such as
the salary of a forensic science technician and information about jobs available with a forensic
science degree. Another document I have analyzed is the degree plan that is needed to follow in
order to obtain a forensic science degree.

Im highly confident about this research method because I have found helpful information in
these websites and degree plan that could be really useful when writing my final paper.